Fort Lauderdale Car Rental

Guide to Fort Lauderdale

Geography

Fort Lauderdale is a city on the southeastern coast of Florida, the nation’s beloved Sunshine State. Fort Lauderdale, on the other hand, is cheekily nicknamed ‘Fort Liquordale,’ which should already hint at what you can expect. Situated within Broward County, Fort Lauderdale is located about 23 miles north of Miami and 42 miles south of Palm Beach. It has 7 miles of beaches facing the tempestuous Atlantic Ocean and the city itself is known for its extensive network of canals and 165 miles of waterways within the urban limits.

Climate in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has a tropical monsoon climate with much of the seasonal rainfall occurring between May and October. So the best time to visit the city would be between December and April when the weather is just perfect to enjoy the gorgeous beaches. Summer is also a good time to visit as the city comes alive to fill your social calendar. Tourists flock to the city to enjoy festivals like the Las Olas Art Festival, Tortuga Music Festival, and the Fort Lauderdale Air Show.

Culture

The area known as Fort Lauderdale was originally inhabited by the Tequesta Indians for more than 2000 years before they were displaced by Spanish settlers who arrived around 1788. During the Seminole Wars in 1838, a fort was built here and named after its commander, Major William Lauderdale. The city got its name from this fort.

Today, Fort Lauderdale is famous for its beaches and is home to more than 100 marinas and 50,000 registered yachts. It is recognized as the Yachting Capital of the world and has a string of luxurious restaurants, bars, boutiques, and hotels to accommodate yachting aficionados from across the country. It is also a perennial favorite for a great beach vacation among college students on spring break, middle-class families, and luxury boat owners alike.

Things To Do in Fort Lauderdale

Enjoy the sublime sun and sand

One of the top attractions here is the Fort Lauderdale beachfront. Its extensive shoreline boasts more than 23 miles of pristine white sands and crystal clear waters. Indulge in water sports like swimming, windsurfing, or deep-sea fishing. If you’re visiting from out-of-town, you can easily rent watersports equipment from one of the many shops along the promenade. Lounge chairs and beach umbrellas are also easily available for those who wish to simply relax with a drink. At the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, you have free access to volleyball and basketball courts, outdoor showers, restrooms, and a playground, and a picnic spot with tables and grills. It is often less crowded than Fort Lauderdale beach and safer as lifeguards render their services during the daytime.

Take a peek into the past

An intriguing place to visit while in Fort Lauderdale is the magnificent 35-acre historic Bonnet House Museum and Gardens estate. Also known as the Bartlett Estate, it was built by Chicago-born artist Frederic Clay Bartlett on land he got as a wedding gift through his first wife. It was named after the bonnet lily flower which grows on the grounds. The interiors display impressive collections of artworks, paintings, and animal sculptures, while the exteriors boast five picturesque gardens with distinct ecosystems ranging from mangrove wetlands to maritime forests. You might be surprised to find an arid desert garden, a vibrant hibiscus garden, and a beautiful courtyard filled with rich tropical vegetation among these. The Bonnet House also has one of the largest collections of orchids in the southeast United States. Visitors can book the Orchid Greenhouse Tour or a Private Living Quarters Tour in advance, both of which are led by expert guides.

Immerse yourself in nature

A few blocks north of Bonnet House, the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a hidden gem in Fort Lauderdale. It has something for every kind of traveler. You can opt for a leisurely bike ride along the nearly 3-km-long paved park drive or choose to get splashed while canoeing or kayaking in the largest of the park’s coastal dune lakes. Nature lovers can also hike through the Coastal Hammock Trail, which meanders through a native maritime tropical hardwood ecosystem, one of the last of its kind in the country. Anglers can haul a great catch at the seawall while animal lovers can look for the abundant flora and fauna that grace the park. Some of the animals found here include turtles, gophers, and more than 200 avian species including hawks.

Your one stop shop for entertainment

Fort Lauderdale’s most notable destination for shopping, dining, and other entertainment is Las Olas Boulevard. With 10 international art galleries, 3 world-class museums, more than 30 al fresco restaurants, and luxurious boutiques, Las Olas is where the well-heeled in Fort Lauderdale spend their weekends. The Mediterranean-influenced architecture and lovely landscaped green spaces just add to its charms. The boulevard also hosts many festivals and events throughout the year including the Las Olas Art Fair where visitors can get acquainted with gallery owners and local artists, and the annual Las Olas Food and Wine Festival which draws gourmands and foodies from all over the country. It is a great place to stroll around, enjoy a street performance, sip a latte, or indulge in some retail therapy.

Eating Out in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale boasts a thriving restaurant scene that caters to all sorts of palettes. From minimalist chic to dignified wood-and-brick interiors, you will be spoilt for choice. Here are some of our top recommendations:

New York Grilled Cheese offers some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches with interesting names such as the Wall Street Grinder or the Brooklyn Porkster. Cuban food is a local favorite in Fort Lauderdale and you shouldn’t miss Padrino’s Cuban. Using the same authentic recipes since 1976, this family-run establishment has been serving delectable ham croquettes, picadillo, and mojo marinated pork to patrons for three generations. Sea Watch on the Ocean is famous for its panoramic sea views as well as the fresh seafood and Southern hospitality. Their crab tostada will tickle your tastebuds and have you wanting more. Casa Sensei dishes out some of the best sushi and Asian noodle dishes like pad thai. At Dune, a signature restaurant inside the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa, try the roasted Atlantic octopus for an unforgettable dinner, best shared with a special someone.

Fort Lauderdale Transport

Airport

Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the primary airport serving the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Boca Raton areas, It is located 3 miles southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 21 miles north of Miami. Handling over 700 daily domestic and international flights, it has been an intercontinental gateway since the late 1990s.

Getting Around Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has a multitude of public transportation options. You can take Broward County Transit (BCT) buses to reach practically anywhere. It operates a fleet of 299 buses on fixed routes and has over 1600 bus stops. Brightline is a privately owned and operated express train with stations in downtown West Palm, downtown Fort Lauderdale, and downtown Miami. Tri-Rail is a 71-mile-long commuter rail line that has 18 stations along the Southeast Florida coast. For enjoyable waterborne transit services throughout Broward County, take the Water Taxi. Fort Lauderdale also has some great bike routes and the BCycle bike-share system makes it easy for you to travel short distances more flexibly. The Sun Trolley Hop-On Bus is another convenient option that plies on five routes covering most tourist hotspots.

For maximum convenience and flexibility to see the city and the surrounding attractions in the Sunshine State in your own time, we recommend renting a car instead